Following a previous one-day strike in March, approximately 3,000 professionals employed by the City of Montreal are gearing up for another strike, this time extending into evenings, nights, and weekends. Scheduled to commence on October 19, this second strike by the Montreal Municipal Professionals Union, an independent entity separate from the central unions, will impact various sectors including libraries, information technology, water management, culture, environment, and finance.
While the union emphasizes the importance of maintaining essential services during the strike, President Anne Dorais stresses the significance of demonstrating the potential disruptions caused by the absence of workers during non-traditional hours. Dorais highlights the impact on services with atypical operating hours such as libraries, cultural services, and information technology, as well as the demands of intensive fall budget processes that may require work beyond regular office hours.
The strike is set to take place during weekdays from 5pm to 8am and will extend throughout the weekends, affecting all hours of operation. The current collective agreement expired on December 31, 2023, with union members having previously supported a strike mandate of 90.6 per cent on September 23. The key issues in the ongoing dispute revolve around wages and teleworking.
In contrast, the City of Montreal recently reached a preliminary agreement with another significant union representing 6000 blue-collar workers, which has not yet been publicly addressed. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has expressed limitations due to the city’s financial circumstances and the need to consider citizens’ financial capacities.
